Andrew & Merryn Malcolm, owners of Kapiti Coast Funeral Home, next month will have been on the Kapiti Coast for 32 years. Purchasing Collins Opie Funerals on 19 May 1992. Despite many changes over the years they are still actively involved, though they have more staff now to help serve the community in which they work.

Back in 1992, aged 26 and 27 respectively, it was a huge gamble to purchase a small Funeral Business in Kapiti. Merryn, busy with a 4 year old and a 6 month old , and Andrew, 2 years from graduating ‘Top Funeral Directing Student’ in New Zealand had been approached to take over as National Funeral Services Tutor. The lure of doing things ‘His way’ was a strong pull to purchase the small barely sustainable business, so Andrew took them both on. So at 5pm on 19 May 1992, Andrew & Merryn signed away to begin a busy life in business while also signing documents to run the then mostly extramural Funeral Directing Certificate course attending to teach two 6 week block courses, with a locum for cover. The tutoring pay meant they didn’t need to draw a salary for most of the 1st year and kept their financial head above water.

Over the 32 years that followed they built strong teams as staff that came and went, but most stayed as long-time employees. Funeral numbers increased, technology changed, and additional services and businesses were added such as Kapiti Katering; and Kapiti Memorials Services; It was Merryn who took over the running of these, the catering company and Memorials, including the role of a monumental mason, at the same time providing Bereavement Support, all, while raising the children.

Then they added, Kapiti Crematorium and most recently Kapiti Loss and Grief Centre. The latter is a Charitable Trust that a large amount of the profits from the Funeral Home go to support as the ‘Principal Sponsor. The Loss and Grief centre is a follow up care centre to ensure those after the Funeral, people have somewhere to go to find help and solace. This Loss and grief centre is the ‘After Care’ support that was the driving force behind Andrew & Merryn purchasing the Funeral Home all those years ago and is their hoped for legacy going into the future.

Andrew has served in Industry bodies over the years including Embalmers Association Board member and later President; Industry Training Organisation Representative; National Tutor (as previously mentioned); Board member, then National Chair of NZ Independent Funeral Homes; and latterly Board Member and now National President of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand.


The importance of a Meaningful Farewell (Funeral) is a passion of both Andrew and Merryn as they strive against those now not wanting a Funeral Service that often leaves behind Grief issues, for those needing to mourn in its wake.

Andrew & Merryn have 5 adult children, 3 married and 2 grandchildren more recently added to the family. Andrew & Merryn are both still working full time, and will continue to do so for a few more years yet.